Automatic heat and cold regulator alarm



B. W. JORDAN.

AUTOMATIC HEAT AND COLD REGULATOR ALARM.

APPucATloN man 050.22. |914.

l ,3 1 2, 1 23. Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. BENNETT w. JQRDAN, or MULLINs, soU'rH CAROLINA, AssrcrNonl or ONE-HALF rro H. r.. BUCK, or Homer COUNTY, soU'rH CAROLINA.

Specification of Letters .Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application led December 22, 1914. Serial No. 878,624.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, BENNE'rr W. JORDAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mullins, in the county of Marion and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Heat and Cold Regulator Alarms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

the terminals.

This invention pertains to a thermo-electric signal and may be associated with a suitable circuit arrangement designed to actuate a signal or a plurality of signals, when the position of a` thermal element, forming a part of the device, varies beyond predeteri mined points.

The arrangement of the coperatlng devices is such that the thermal element may be positioned at various points with relation to electrical terminals to actuate minimum and maximum thermo-electric alarms and thereby assist in governing the temperature at which the system, employing the invention as a part thereof,'is to be operated.

Associated with the thermal element are suitable manually controlled devices for the arrangement of electrical terminals at various positions with relation to each other, each terminal controlling a separate circuit, whereby greater or lesser latitude may be provided between a maximum temperature and a minimum temperature for the operation of the system to which the invention is applied.

One embodiment of the invention is illus-l trated in the accompan ing drawings, but it is to be understood t at the construction 4therein shown is for the purposes of illustration only and not as defining the limits of the invention. y

In the drawings: f

Figure 1 is a frpnt elevation of the-circuit closer showing a circuit arrangement in which the device' may be employed for oertain purposes. 4

Fig. 2 is a rearelevation of the circuit closer. A

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailsectional view through the upper end of one .of the tubular members and disclosing a form of one of Y 5 of the'base block. T

While the invention is susceptible of a variety of uses, it will be described more particularly in connection with heating systems, as it is adapted for use in connection with incubators and tobacco curing systems.

In incubatore, it is desirous that a substantially uniform temperature shall be employed, and the circuit closer is adapted to be placed in the electrical system which will Warn the attendant through its thermal contacts, of changes in temperature above or below predetermined points.

In the curing of tobacco, substantially the same temperature requirements prevail as in incubators. For example, in certain stages in curing tobacco, the temperature should not apprecie-bly vary for a given period. It-may be stated that the temperature of a-curing room should be maintained,.- for example, .at 100 to 105 F. until the leaves of the .tobacco plant assume a color which is desired, whereupon the temperature may be increased to retain or set the color and perfect the curing of the product. This increased temperature may even exceed 180 F. The curing of a plant may require from four to six days, and it is very desirable from a commercial standpoint, that the plant shall be properly cured and shall also present the proper color. 4

An object of the invention, therefore, is to assist the attendants who are employed to` watch the curingoperation in guarding against temperature changes beyond maximum or minimum points, bythe employment of an electrical signal which may be controlled by an automatic circuit closer actuated by a thermal element.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated "in the accompanying drawings, the circuit closer is shown mounted upon a base indicated at 1, which may be provided with a central aperture 2 having' guiding flanges 3 for supporting a slidable base block 4. This base block is shown provided with a scale 5 in Fig. 1 which is movable therewith.

The base 1 is preferably provided with an indicator 6 l having a hand 7 thereon which is adaptedto coperatie with the scale e indicator 6 is secured to the base by any suitable means'and is provided with extensions 8 having graduating scales thereon, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter set forth. On the rear 30 l stance may bepositioned solely Am'ometer or thermal element which is shown as comprising a aplurality of tubularl members which are unlted at the base 14 thereof.`

.One of these. tubular membersl is pjefer- .ably sealed, whilethe members 16 and 17 are arranged arallel to each other, and are provided at t e upper ends witha substantiallyopen cup-shaped terminal 18. The

tubular members 16V and 17 may be of glass or other suitable transparent material, and the cup-shaped members 1 8 thereof may be provided wlth a ilanged closure 19 as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The ,tubular member 17 may be hereinafter designated as an open circuit tube, while the tubular member 16 mayv be designated' as a closed circuit tube.

Any suitable thermal substance may be employed in the thermometer, such as mercury, which will serve as a conductor of electricity, or mercury may be employed with R some other thermal substance or substances which is more sensitive to temperature changes than mercury, and this other subt-ube thereby permitting t e mercury to be'positioned in tubes 16 Aand 17 and in the base 14 thereof, with which is connected an electrical terminal 20. t

A movable electrical terminal -21 is positioned within'the open circuit tube 17, and a similar movable electrical terminal ,22 is positioned within the closed circuit.- tube 16.

These terminals may be of` any suitable material, but in a practical embodiment ofthe invention, they are discloscdasfbeingcomg. 3, Whichfmaybe covered bly a 24 to insulatethe same', and a so l ,u the channel in the open circuit tube 17 TPo the lower end of the copper wire there may be lass tube secured a bare platinum wire 25 which is dei signed to contact with the thermal conductor within the tube. Any suitable \material, such as glycerin, or other iitable oils indicated at 26, may beplaced within the cup 18 to seal the tubes 16 and 17 and prevent oxidization of the mercury.

-Mounted on the base 1 is shown a plurality of terminal control rods 27,28, which rods are connected with a pivoted lever 29 for simultaneous movement of the rods. The rod 28 is provided with anysuitable means, such as the set screw 30 for moving the rods 27, 28 through the lever 29, while the rod 27 may be provided with a resilient element 31 to prevent accidental displacement of the rods and the electrical terminals which they control. Connected with i the terminal in the closed the'scale upon the extension member 8 and also indicates the lowermost position of the electrical terminal22.v j

lThe system in which the circuit closer is shownarranged, comprises a plurality of audible signals, one of ,which'35,`may have la higher musical tone than the other, 36.' Connecting with the terminal wire 21 is a conductor which leads to a binding ost 37, from which the. conductor 38 lea s to a source of energy such as the battery 39. The terminal-22 passes through its binding ost 37 and leads to a source of energy 40. he conductor 20 may extend from the base of 4the thermometer to the signal 35. .A relay 41 having a pivoted armature 42, is shown interposed between the source of energy 40 and the conductor 20 by means of a conduc- 4tor 43. The signal35 is connected. to the signal 36 by a conductor 44, and the arma.

ture 42 may be connected to the a conductor 45 land to thel by a conductor 46.

When starting the system, the terminals 21, 22 are arranged at their zero position so that the' lower ends thereof within the thermometer are directl opposite. The base signal 36 by blockmay then be adjusted upon the base to' t' have the indicator hand 7;po1nt to thetemperature at which a system is to be operated, for example, in the ,drawings at 130". .If there is to be a 20 latitude for the temperature the thumb screw 30 may be actuated Auntil the pointer 34 is moveddown to the 10o marked upon the fixed scale 8of the indicator 6 on the base, which action also moves the terminal 22 in the closed circuit tube downwardly to the point of the indicator hand 34,- and at the same time moves the terminal 21 upwardly so that it ends opposite to the point 1() on the lixed scale of the upper extension 8. In this arrangement the terminal 22 is in contact with the mercury conductor-and-forms a closed circuit through 22,` 40, 41 and 20 which draws the armature 42 into Vcontact with the relay.

The terminal 21 is then out of contact Withthe mercury, and forms an open circuit. Should the temperature rise beyond 140, the mercury would contact with terminal 21 whereupon a circuit wouldbe set u through v38, 39, 35 and 20 to'sound the bell, indicating that the-temperature was too high. Should the mercury dropY below 120 in the closed circuit tube, it Wouldbreak the contact between the mercury and terminal 22, whereupon the relay 4l would be denergized, its armature moved by its resilient element 47 source of energy to its contact point and set up a separate circuit through the armaturefl, the conductor 46, battery 39 and conductor-45, sounding' the signal which indicatesthe temperature has become too low.

It will be obseryed that the circuit closer is automaticin its operation, and that it can be adjusted for various uses.

It is obvious that various changes in the form and proportion of parts may be made in the structure herein disclosedito adapt the device to various purposes, and the right is reserved to make such'changes' as fairly fall within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thusdescribed my invention whatI I claim las new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is: i v

1. A circuit closer for a ,thermo-electric signal comprisin a base, relatively movable electric termina s, said terminals mounted upon a ivoted bar, a thermometer contain-` ing a uid designed to contact with the terminals at predeterminedjpoints, and means to move the pivoted bar to vthereby simultaneously move the electric terminals to maximum and minimum contact points on the thermometer.- 1

2. A .circuit closer signal comprising va base, abarl pivotally mounted thereon, electric terminals carried thereby, a thermometer slidably mounted upon the base, said thermometer having tubes in alinement with the terminals of the bar, and containing a fluid designed to contact therewith at predetermined points, and an adjusting screw carried bythe bar whereb saidbar may be movedon its pivot tov simultaneously move the terminals in 'opposite directions with respectjto the fluid conductor of the thermometer;Y i

' 3. A circuit.closer-comprising containers, a thermally sensitive fluid conductor therein,

a pivoted bar, relatively movable electric terminals mounted thereon in alinement with the fluid conductor, and means to move -the terminals in opposite directions with movadilen electrical terminals adapted to L 'the iliiid conductor ui'niinals being conent whereby said neously moved 7*-, s separately contact w at "werent levels, said tvitii a pivote@ i may be simi for a thermo-'electric v opposite-directions to various positions with- 'relation to said fluid conductor, said posi-I tions determining the maximum and minimum points of contact with the fluid, and

means to retain said terminals in their ad? ]usted positions.

6. A circuit closerucomprising container members for a fluid conductor, relatively ymovable elcctricalterminals adapted to be positioned within said container members, and means to connect said terminals for simultaneous adjustment in opposite direcy tions within said container members and operating to position the terminalsat the maximum and minimum points of contact with the fluid.

7. A circuit closer comprising containers having a fluid conductor therein, relativelymovable electrical terminals mounted in operative position with respect' to the fluid conductor, and means to simultaneously adjust the individual terminals -in opposite directions with respect to the fluid conduc- 8. A circuit closer comprising a base, containers for a fluid-conductor mounted thereon, electrical terminals mounted in operative terminals being capab e of simultaneous adjustment relative thereto,l and means to move the individual terminals in parallel and rpposite directions. i

. 9. circuit closer comprising a base, tubular containers for a fluid conductor mounted thereon, electrical terminals mounted in operative position with respect,v thereto, means tomove the individual terminals simultaneously in. opposite directions to contact with the fluid at different levels, and means to retain the terminals in an adjusted position.

10. A circuit closer comprising a base having electrical terminals mounted thereon,

means to connect said terminals for simultaneous movement in opposite directions, a

position with res ect to the'fiuid, saidy receptacle for afluid conductor including tubular -containers adapted tc receive and jhouse a part of said terminals, and means whereby said` fluid conductor receptacle may bemoved to various positions on the base and with relation to said terminals.

11. A circuit closer comprising a base, yan arm pivotally mounted thereon, electrical terminals mounted on said arm on opposite sides of the pivot point thereof, tubular containers movably mounted onthe base, a iluid conductor contained therein. said terminals designed to contact with the 1fluid. conductor,

and means to move the arm to thereby simultaneously adiust the individual terminals in opposite parallel directions with respect to the conductor.

i2. circuit closer comprising containers a iiuid conductor, electrical terminals mounted in operative position respect thereto, means to move the containers rela-- each other and in opposite directions with respect to the conductor.

13. A circuit closer comprising a base, relatively movable electrical terminals being carried by a` pivoted arm land mounted on opposite sides of the fulcrum thereof, tubular containers slidably mounted on the base, a fluid conductor therein, means to'move the containers to bring the conducting iuid in Contact with the terminals, and means to adjust the individual terminals relative to each other to contact with the fluid at differ ent levels.

In testimony whereof, I aiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

BENNETT W. JORDAN. Witnesses:

Guo. THos. SWAIN, D. L. GALLAGHER. 

